One Day at a Time

Bakersfield, California was great! Starting off the demos with an interview with the local paper, Bakersfield Californian-You can read the article here here.)

The first night's demo went very well (they all did)-we had a ton of local activists come out but a special thanks goes out to the Network Against Animal Circuses and two locals who after the demo hooked me up with a place to eat and good conversation. (No, I am not just saying that because they told me they read Psychosomatic Rants-I can't help it if they have good taste in blogs.)

Since I have a little time to spend on this post-I would like to do a flash back moment to when I was in Phoenix.

Insert flash back music-(you know I really should create some flashback music for these moments.)

It was the last day in Phoenix-Ringling Bros. was done with their abusive shows and it was time to walk the elephants from the arena to the train. As I was filming the elephants before they were being loaded onto the train a friend of Ringling Bros. started yelling at me. The reason I say 'friend' is because earlier, before the walk, I saw this man talking and hanging out with Ringling employees. So, they were apparently buddies. Anyway, he starts off yelling at me saying things like, 'You know what PETA stands for right?!' and then he spouted off the typical line that want-to-be comedians say after this lame 'set-up'. Then he starts going off on telling me and the volunteers who were helping me that we... well, just watch and see.

WTF?!-I love how he said, when the volunteer said, "elephants in the wild walk 25 miles a day!' and he replies, "No they don't -not in captivity! -You don't know anything about elephants!"-When I heard that, I had to do everything in my power not to laugh at this stupidity, for lack of a better term. It totally amazes me that this is what we are up against and how much they miss the point and can't see past their pocket books. That is the only reason they have animals in the circus. Ringling has said it themselves in several interviews-that without the elephants there would be no Ringling Bros. It is so bizarre how they go to such extremes to protect their wallets and how the animals have to suffer and endure beatings to protect those pocketbooks.

While you watch the video and are listening to that guy rant about nothing-pay attention to what the elephants are doing. Notice that sway motion they are doing. This swaying motion is not normal for elephants in the wild. Some circus directors tell the public that elephants have to sway in time with their heartbeat while they doze and that the movement has a calming effect on them or some other lie. This stereotypic behavior is not part of an elephant's natural range of behaviors. In the wild, elephants don't develop neurotic behaviors, since they are not bored and depressed from being confined and hit all the time.

The elephant keepers call these stereotypic movements "weaving". Weaving, rocking, or head-bobbing are signs that their physical and psychological needs are not being met, as is typical with bored, frustrated and shackled elephants in circuses.There are elephants in circuses who sway very gently from side to side or forwards and backwards, without lifting their feet. Others have a ground-covering weave, legs spread, accompanied by a swaying of the trunk. There are even some elephants who display a rapid circling of the head or alternately take a step forward and back again. If, for instance, an elephant seeks physical contact with another elephant and is prevented from doing so due to being chained up, she may react by displaying stereotypic behavior. The elephant will begin weaving and will continue to do so until she has reached her goal, i.e. until she is able to touch the other elephant, or until distracted by a new stimulus. If she is not allowed to satisfy this key stimulus either, the circle of disappointment begins again and the elephant may degenerate to a sad, frustrated elephant. The healthy appearance, activity level, and natural behavior of elephants, such as those in sanctuaries with hundreds of acres to roam, is usually a clear indication that their needs are being met. Abnormal behavior patterns in elephants traveling with Ringling and other circuses or even in zoos can also be the effect of an environment that does not challenge them to keep active, does not give them choices about their daily lives, where a poorly executed circus trick results in beatings, or where there is a lack of positive stimuli. Elephants in circuses lack the everyday challenges and pleasures of life in the wild. As you can see, every single one of the elephants with Ringling are showing this type of unhealthy behavior. So referring to the last paragraph in the interview above-when Ringling invites everyone to 'to see for themselves that the animals are in excellent condition." Well, here is my video of 'seeing for myself.' When Ringling says 'excellent condition', do they mean bored, frustrated and abused elephants? - Because that is all I see!

I am going to do everything in my power to call for the biggest boycott ever against Ringling Bros. and any other circus that torments these gentle giants. If I am coming through your town, please come out and help.

A huge thanks to everyone who I have met on my travels and are doing what they can to help put a stop to the abuse caused by Ringling Bros.